Has anyone heard of getting reading glasses to correct distance vision??

Question

I just went to the eye doctor for the first time ever, because I noticed that I could not see things clearly far away. I've tried on my brother's glasses--he needs t hem for distance, like driving--and they made everything super clear and crisp. However, the doctor said she thinks the root of the problem is that I'm straining my eyes when I do close-up/detailed things like read or lab work (that's my job), and that if I get reading glasses (+0.5 prescription) this might correct my distance vision. BUT, when she asked me if the +0.5 lens made it better, at first I said yes, but when we returned to it later, I couldn't really tell the difference but I said I guess it looked a little better with the lens. I guess my question is: is it possible that I'm straining my eyes close-up even though I don't realize it-and even though I don't see much or barely any correction through the +0.5 lenses? THANKS so much and sorry for the long post!

Answer 1

It is possible to have trouble seeing far away and find improvement wearing reading glasses.  Ideally, the eye should see perfectly into the distance with no effort.  In order to see things up close, the eye must activate its muscles and refocus.  The closer the object, the harder the focus.  If the muscles are fatigued or are weak in general, they have a harder time achieving this and eventually become sluggish or cramp up altogether.  You may notice it takes a few seconds for a distance image to come into focus after reading for a while.  If the system cramps altogether, it makes you seem artificially near-sighted (unable to see in the distance).  In this case, reading glasses that do some of the focusing for you and take the strain off the muscles are helpful.

For example, if you went to the gym at 8 am and started doing bicep curls with a 5 lb weight, it would seem easy at first.  By 5:00 in the afternoon, it would feel like 500lbs and your arm would be cramped and tired.  The same thing can happen in eyes if they are overtaxed or the focusing system is week in general.

I have this condition myself so I'm sensitive to it.  When I wear my reading glasses properly, my distance vision goes back to normal.

Formally, this is known as accommodative dysfunction.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Yes, wearing reading glasses will improve your distance vision. If your eyes were genetic, you would already be myopic and have been wearing galsses for years, But Your not. wear the reading lens for all close work and try to focus on the distance mainly. This should work and make your distance vision back to normal